Char Kway Teow

Char Kway Teow

‘Char Kway Teow’ or ‘stir-fried ricecake strips’ is arguably one of the most popular dishes among Malaysians of all races. The name is derived from the Hokkien term for ‘fried’ which is ‘char, while ‘kway teow’ refers to the ‘flat rice noodles’, which is the main ingredient.



The latter is stir-fried over very high heat with light or dark soy sauce, chili, while prawns, deshelled cockles, bean sprouts, chinese chives and eggs.

Among the chinese community, the char kway teow is traditionally stir-fried in pork fat with crisp croutons of pork lard and serve on a piece of banana leaf or plate. In some instances, slices of chinese sausage and fishcake are added to accentuate the taste.

Originally conceived as a poor man’s food, mostly consumed by laborers, farmers, fishermen and cockle-pickers, the dish has today evolved into one of the most-loved dishes among Malaysians – but with certain ingredients omitted to adhere to ‘halal’ guidelines of muslim community.

As the dish became more widespread, many cooks have come up with their own versions of ‘char kway teow’ but with the same essential ingredients ‘Char kway teow’ was said to have its origins in S.E.Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei) but the common consensus is that ‘Penang char kway teow’ tops the list when it comes to taste and originality.

In Kampar, Perak, the dish is cooked with cockles but no prawns, unless on request. In East Malaysia, other ingredients are used in the cooking eg beef, onions, sweet soya sauce etc.

There are also so-called ‘gourmet versions’ of char kway teow, especially in Ipoh, Penang, Taiping and even the Klang Valley, where seafood, crab meat and even duck eggs are added to suit discerning tastes.

~Info courtesy of Tourism Malaysia~

Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak



No visitors will leave Malaysia without tasting our very own Nasi Lemak. Hot cooked rice with pandan aroma steamed with coconut cream goes heavenly well with sizzling spicy sauce or “sambal”. 

Generous sprinklings of roasted peanuts and salty dried anchovies with a hard boiled egg perfect this dish. 

A platter of everything good all wrapped up in banana leaves to further enhance its unique taste. Nasi Lemak is truly a national heritage of Malaysia.

~Courtesy of Tourism Malaysia~

Expect more rain until January, says weatherman

Expect more rain until January, says weatherman

The start of the northeast monsoon today will bring more rain to the east coast of the peninsula and parts of Sabah and Sarawak.

The wet season is expected to last until January.

MetMalaysia director-general Alui Bahari said the northeastern winds from the South China Sea will mark the start of the monsoon season.

“Right now, the winds are still from the southwest, they are variable, but by tomorrow, they will persist from the northeast,” said Alui when contacted yesterday.

He said an episode would range between three and four days of moderate to heavy rain.

This monsoon season is expected to see four to five such episodes.

MetMalaysia has its own colour coding for rainfall, with yellow indicating heavy rain is expected within the next one to three days, and if there is continuous rain, it will not last for more than six hours and the rainfall will be less than 60mm.

Meanwhile, orange indicates continuous heavy rain that will exceed six hours and rainfall collection of at least 60mm while red shows continuous heavy rain exceeding 240mm a day.

Alui said the department would also be monitoring wind speeds and wave heights, as monsoon winds could whip up waves.

For the day’s weather forecast, log on to www.met.gov.my/in/web/metmalaysia/forecasts/general/country.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Electric Train Service provides smooth ride from Kuala Lumpur to Perlis

Electric Train Service provides smooth ride from Kuala Lumpur to Perlis



Commuter Vincent Khor feels the interior of the electric train operated by Malayan Railways is comfortable and cosy. There are even power sockets under the seats.

I was very excited about taking Malaysia’s Electric Train Service (ETS) from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to Arau, Perlis, for the very first time.

It was probably the best decision I made on this trip – to travel by electric train instead of car or plane during the Labour Day weekend in April/May, to participate in the Perlis Marathon.

I bought my Malayan Railways ETS train ticket online.

When I fly, I prefer an aisle seat in the centre of the plane. I decided to make the same seat selection for the train ride. From the online ticketing system, I couldn’t tell if the seat I had chosen was facing the direction the train would be moving or the other way around. And I also couldn’t tell if the cafeteria was in the same coach.

What I was looking forward to was a nice, cosy seat with peace, quiet and privacy so that I could get some sleep. I needed some rest ahead of the marathon, which was held exactly one minute past midnight on the day I arrived.

While waiting for the train, scheduled to depart KL Sentral Station at 7.05am, I bumped into so many runners, some of whom I knew. They were also planning to take the same train and take part in the same marathon.

As I was about to board, I saw Kin K Yum (the marathoner, photographer and newspaper columnist) pushing his foldable bike and walking towards the train platform. I chatted with him for a while. He told me he was waiting for another friend Chan Wai Yee, who I met later, who also brought along a foldable bike. That was such an awesome idea – travelling with foldable bike for leisure cycling after the run in Perlis!

We found out that we were in different coaches so off we went to our separate seats.

TRAIN TO PERLIS

As I entered Coach C, I passed through a nice-looking cafeteria.

My seat was in a four-seat layout, with two seats facing another two, and a blue table in the middle. Throughout the journey, I was not be able to stretch my legs comfortably. Or if I took a nap, strangers sitting across me would be able to watch me all the time.

I was worried I would snore, or saliva would drool from my open mouth, in front of strangers. What if a fellow passenger decided to take a video of me snoring and upload it onto YouTube or Facebook? That made me wonder how I could sleep throughout the five-hour ride.

Five minutes after the train departed, Kin (or "KK" as his friends call him) came over to ask if I wanted to join him and the other runners in their coach. I thought all the seats were sold out! KK then told me that he bought an extra seat, which he was offering to me. My prayers were answered! I would have some peace and a restful journey.

FROM KL TO IPOH

The journey would have 14 stops before its scheduled arrival in Arau at 12.13pm. Pretty fast and efficient.

I found out that the train was moving at speeds averaging around 120kmh, reaching 150kmh at times. However, inside the train, one didn’t feel the speed at all as it ran very smoothly. It was a great way to travel, and we beat the traffic jams along the North-South Expressway!

From cityscapes, the views morphed into smaller towns with lush green vegetation before arriving at the old and beautiful Ipoh train station.

FROM IPOH TO ARAU

The journey from Ipoh saw an even more noticeable change in the landscape. I could spot more oil palm plantations, more forests, and finally padi fields, especially in Kedah. I got excited when the train passed the freshwater lake at Bukit Merah near Taiping. It was the lake I swam in when I took part in the 113 Triathlon last year.

We got off the train at Arau station. We then took the bus to Kangar, where the marathon would be held.

Before we arrived, I suggested to KK and Wai Yee to assemble their foldable bikes in the spacious air-conditioned train.

To our surprise, the train attendant did not object to them assembling their bikes in the train. In fact, he was courteous and friendly.

I was so impressed by the whole train experience – it was unforgettable, awesome and pleasant.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

About 30 landslides reported on Penang Hill

About 30 landslides reported on Penang Hill during recent storm

There were about 30 landslides on Penang Hill during the recent storm with at least two major ones near a Hindu temple and mosque at the hilltop.

Aerial pictures showed effects of landslides close to the 230m-long canopy walk under construction at The Habitat rainforest garden.

Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple secretary K. Paramanathan said the beam at the priest quarters at the back of the temple has become exposed.

“The temple is not affected. I was told about this by a trustee who lives on the hill,” he said.

The Habitat managing director Allen Tan, who is in Hong Kong, said the landslide has not affected the canopy walk.

The canopy walk, when it is opened to the public, will provide a spectacular view across the hill.

It was reported the canopy walk was supposed to be ready last month.

Penang Hill Corporation general manager Cheok Lay Leng said about 30 locations were hit by landslides but the exact number could not be ascertained yet.

“We will check out the landslides near the temple and mosque once access to the hilltop has been restored.

“We expect to open a lane on the jeep trail in about four days as workers are clearing the road,” he said.

The 5.2km jeep trail, which starts near the Penang Botanic Gardens till the hilltop, has been badly hit by landslides. The road is also blocked by fallen trees and branches.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Penang and Perak: More storms on the horizon

Penang and Perak: More storms on the horizon

The Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds in Penang and several districts of Perak that will persist until Wednesday evening.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Penang Hill funicular train service suspended after flash floods

Penang Hill funicular train service suspended after flash floods

The Penang Hill funicular train service has been suspended until further notice following flash floods here.

"Every effort is being made to normalise operations as soon as possible," it said on its Facebook page Sunday, apologising for any inconvenience caused.

Putrajaya has mobilised the police and the military to help with the flood situation.

For details, log in to www.penanghill.gov.my.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Penang floods: Met Dept forecasts more rain in northern states

Penang floods: Met Dept forecasts more rain in northern states

The flood situation in Penang improved slightly by noon Sunday, but the Meteorological Department has forecast that bad weather will continue.

In the latest post on its Facebook page, the department issued an "orange" alert warning, which indicates expected continuous rainfall with strong winds in the northern states of Kedah, Perlis and Penang on Sunday.

On Saturday night, the department issued a red alert which indicated continuous downpour in Penang and Kedah.

Putrajaya has mobilised the police and the military to help with the Penang flood situation.

~News courtesy of The Star~

RM1 flight levy starts January 2018

RM1 flight levy starts January 2018

ALL passengers leaving Malaysia by air will have to pay a levy of up to RM1 from January, following changes to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) Act 2015.

“The Government spent almost RM30mil on Mavcom’s operational costs last year. The levy for air travellers is justified, considering the services Mavcom provides, which range from receiving and processing complaints to conducting educational activities,” he said.

The changes to the law also allows Mavcom to impose penalties for any non-compliance over guidelines on competition, regulatory fees and charges.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Happy Deepavali!

Happy Deepavali!
தீபாவளி நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!
屠妖节快乐！

Asean to open skies further

Asean to open skies further

Asean countries signed the protocol to put into place a package of commitments to further liberalise air transport services in the region.

At the 23rd Asean Transport Ministers Meeting, the countries also agreed to improve connectivity among member states.

Transport ministers and senior officials from Asean member countries attended the two-day meeting. Also present were dialogue partners from China, Japan and South Korea.

Among the highlights of the meeting was the conclusion of the “tenth package of commitments on air transport services under the Asean Framework of Services”.

Liow said the ministers also signed the protocol of domestic code-share rights, allowing code­-sharing arrangements between the marketing airline and domestic airline in Asean member countries.

“This would increase connectivity between Malaysia and other Asean member states.

“At the same time, it would enable designated airlines of Malaysia to offer their passengers a wide range of travel options which can extend beyond the airlines’ own network and route structure,” he added.

Liow said the ministers signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Flight Crew Licensing, which would facilitate air services to complement liberalisation efforts in Asean, and ensure the highest degree of security in international air transport.

They also reached an agreement on the Facilitation of Cross Border Transport of Passengers by Road Vehicles.

“This is to promote seamless cross-border mobility of passengers between Asean member states,” said Liow.

He added that the ministers had concluded the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the authorities in charge of aircraft accident investigation under the Asean-China partnership.

“This agreement would further strengthen Malaysia’s cooperation with China in relation to aircraft accident and incident investigations, sharing experiences and expertise in various specialist fields, equipment and research,” he said.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Tourism Tax

Happy Independence Day

Travellers departing airports to pay RM1 levy from 2018

Travellers departing Malaysian airports to pay RM1 levy from 2018

Air travellers will be subjected to a RM1 (US$0.23) levy when departing Malaysian airports as early as 2018, the country's aviation regulator said on Tuesday (Aug 15).

The new levy to be imposed by the Malaysia Aviation Commission, MAVCOM will be tabled in parliament in October. It will apply to all departing passengers for both domestic and overseas destinations except for rural air services in interior Sabah and Sarawak.

The passenger service charge at all Malaysian airports may also be raised from the current RM50 to RM73 for all international flights beyond Asean beginning January 2018 to standardise the system.
v Currently a different rate applies to KLIA1 and KLIA2 international airports.

The passenger service charge is fixed at RM35 for all destinations in Asean.

MAVCOM, which was set up last year to regulate the civil aviation industry, is expected to collect RM30 million in the first year from the RM1 levy, according to its chief operating officer Azmir Zain.

"I can confirm there is a definite plan by Mavcom to charge RM1 levy to all departing passengers with exception of those flying the rural air services in Sabah and Sarawak. The purpose of the RM1 levy is to ensure financial sustenance and more importantly the independence of the commission. In the last 12 months we have shown results. Example, by lowering the passenger service charge from RM65 to RM35 flat for all ASEAN destinations. That's a saving of RM30 for customers."

MAVCOM, in tabling its first industry report on Tuesday, said it expects the air passenger traffic to grow between 7.8 and 8.6 per cent in 2017 with the number of air travellers expected to hit 99.6 million.

But amid decreasing air fare and competitive operating environment, revenues are expected to remain flat for most airlines. 

Source: Channel News Asia

Penang tourism to ride high with moviegoers soon

Penang tourism to ride high with moviegoers soon



Grown-ups on bicycle: (From left) Dr Koh, Sun and Songpaisarn posing in front of the mural in Lebuh Keng Kwee.

A young man goes all out to woo a lovely lass. He remembers a tender moment they shared when he picked her up on his vintage bicycle, and “capitalises” on it by painting a mural of them on his two-wheeler.

The woman is moved on seeing the painting, and soon love blossoms.

This scene will be part of a romantic movie by a producer from China which will hit the silver screen in more than 5,000 cinemas around the world.

Titled Shining Love, the movie stars Thai heartthrob Yuke Songpaisarn and the angelic Sun Yao Qi from China.

The producers commissioned realism artist Dr Caryn Koh, a medical doctor from Kuala Lumpur, to paint the mural.

She completed the task on Monday night after five days on it.

Filming the scenes involving the mural was done on Tuesday.

Those who watch the movie elsewhere may be drawn to Penang for a chance to be photographed with the bicycle mural located in Lebuh Keng Kwee near the famous Penang Road Teochew Cendol stall.

Dr Koh’s manager, Tan Chor Whye, said the mural was an 11th hour addition by the producers.

“The original script used a tall picture of something else. But when the movie makers saw how much people loved the Children on Bicycle mural, they went with the flow,” Tan said.

The Children on Bicycle mural near the corner of Armenian Street and Beach Street was painted by Ernest Zacharevic for the George Town Fes­tival 2012.

Tan described the new mural as a “grown-up version” of the one with the children.

“There is just one problem. The movie producers did not have enough time to get the necessary approval from the state’s public art review panel to have their mural prop painted,” he said, adding that the producers felt bad as they committed to the change in the script without knowing that the panel’s approval was needed.

“We submitted all the necessary documents and will abide by the panel’s decision.

“If the mural is deemed unsuitable, we will have it erased. But I hope not,” he added.

George Town World Heritage Incorporated manager Chuah Ai Kheng confirmed that the producer submitted all the documents on Monday and the panel would make a decision within two weeks.

The movie is produced by Beijing Fengren Studios Co Ltd and directed by Shi Lei of Hong Kong.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Orchards drawing in durians lovers from afar

Orchards drawing in durians lovers from afar



Aromatic delight: The foreign visitors enjoying durians during their visit to the farm. With them is Chang (right).

It’s like the Pied Piper but of aroma as durian orchards here lure travellers despite it not being the peak season yet.

Tourists from as far as the Middle Kingdom are following their nose to the durian trail.

Chinese nationals Guo Xin and his wife Xing Zhi Yun, both 32, were among the many foreign holidaymakers whose mission here was solely to savour the thorny fruit.

“This is our first time to Penang. We came here just to eat durians. In China, there are durians imported from Malaysia but they are very expensive.

“Thai durians are not as pricey but we prefer the taste and fragrance of those from Malaysia,” Guo said when met at a durian farm here.

Guo, who is from Dalian, and Xing arrived in Penang on Thursday. They will be here for a week.

Another couple from China were also spotted enjoying durians with coffee at the orchard.

Wei Chan Fang, 39, said she and her husband Zhan Xiang, 38, were durian lovers and they especially loved the Musang King variant.

“We travelled to Penang just for durians,” she said.

She said that durians from Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia were available in her country.

“But in my opinion, the ones from Thailand and Vietnam lack the aroma of Malaysian durians.

“The durians from Malaysia, especially Musang King, have become very expensive in China, so much so that ordinary people cannot afford to buy them. So we rather travel here to enjoy the best of the fruits,” she said.
v For Indonesian Martin Suhartono, 29, eating durians with a group of people was a new experience.

“Back in my hometown, there’s no practice where people gather together to eat durians like this,” said Martin, who is from Bandung but works in Singapore as a logistics manager.

Bao Sheng durian farm owner Chang Teik Seng said this year’s peak season was expected to be from July till early August.

“The durian season is usually around May to July every year.”

“The durian supply this year is also expected to be low, with an average of 100 fruits per day in July as compared with 400 to 500 fruits per day during May and June in previous years when weather conditions were better,” he said.

Chang said that the fruits started to drop three days ago.

“The number of fruits is expected to increase from now on before slowing down in August.”

~News courtesy of The Star~

Selamat hari raya

Clear skies expected over Raya

Clear skies expected over Raya

It will likely be a sunny Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year in most parts of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

The date for sighting the Syawal new moon to determine when Aidilfitri falls has been set for June 24, and many expect Hari Raya to start the next day.

Malaysian Meteorological De­­part­­ment director-general Alui Bahari said a detailed forecast for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period will only be released today but added that the weather is generally expected to be dry due to the current south-west monsoon.

The south-west monsoon started on May 17, and will continue until September, typically associated with lower rainfall in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

“There is always heavy traffic on the highways during the Raya pe­­riod, but good weather conditions will hopefully help to make journeys safer as the roads are dry and visibility is better,” said Alui.

The volume of vehicles that will hit the roads starting this week as families make their way back to their hometowns is expected to grow.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd said traffic plying the North-South Expressway during peak days starting Wednes­day to July 3 is set to hit 1.7 million vehicles per day.

The figure is an increase of 30% from the reported 1.2 million vehicles during the Raya peak period two years ago.

Another highway concessionaire, Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd (Litrak), expects a 10% increase in the number of vehicles on the Sprint and Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) highways in Selangor as the Hari Raya celebration draws closer.

The LDP, which is normally used by more than 470,000 vehicles each week, may see an increase of about 10,000 vehicles this week.

Association of Highway Con­cessionaires Malaysia said in a statement that the volume of traffic is expected to increase by between 30% and 40% during the coming Raya period compared to normal times.

“The Kuala Lumpur-Karak Express­­way, East Coast Expressway (LPT1) and East Coast Highway 2 (LPT2) is expected to see an increase of 50% in traffic volume,” the statement said.

To cope with the traffic volume, PLUS has issued a travel time advisory to help the public plan their journey and to distribute traffic between June 21 and July 3.

Those planning to travel from the Klang Valley to their hometowns in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, northern Perak and Johor are advised to enter the highway before 10am.

Those heading towards nearer destinations such as in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, southern Perak and central Perak, are advised to start their journey and enter the North-South Expressway after 10am on designated days.

Meanwhile, Penang is expecting an influx of visitors who are set to take advantage of the four-day Aidilfitri holiday.

“Last year, the traffic was not so bad, but it is too early to predict the congestion this year,” said state traffic police enforcement chief Supt Roslan Ali.

He added that traffic police would be out daily under Ops Selamat from now until July 2.

Malaysian Hoteliers Association Penang Chapter chairman Khoo Boo Lim said most hotels in the state were almost full.

“Penang is a top choice for local tourists and many are definitely coming here during the break,” he added.

~News courtesy of The Star~

‘Time’ lists Penang among most budget-friendly Asian destinations

‘Time’ lists Penang among most budget-friendly Asian destinations

Tourists have another reason to visit Penang: it is easy on the pocket.

Time magazine has selected it as one of the 10 “amazing Asian vacations that won’t cost a fortune” out of almost 50 other popular destinations in Asia.

According to the article, the 10 destinations got the best score based on factors such as price of airfare, lodging and food, number of restaurants and attractions offered, low crime rates, pleasant weather and ease of access to public transportation.

The total cost for two persons to spend a week in Penang was US$2,669 (RM11,400).

“Penang island’s diverse attractions – white sandy beaches, large resorts, quiet fishing villages and a bustling urban centre – are a steal right now,” the magazine said in its report.

It stated that hotel room rates were down 10% from last year, averaging US$80 (RM342) a night while airfare dipped 16% to US$916 (RM3,918) for a roundtrip from the United States.

The article also highlighted Penang’s famous street fare which was described as “some of the best food in South-East Asia”.

“Most dishes will set you back only about a dollar,” added the magazine.

The article added that the city’s charm included the East-meets-West design blend, the heritage buildings and clanhouses, jungle trails and quiet beaches.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said yesterday the selection puts Penang as one of the best value for money destinations and among the cheapest.

The nine other destinations listed are Xi’an in China; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Hoi An, Vietnam; Taipei, Taiwan; Siem Reap, Cambodia; Kathmandu, Nepal; Bali, Indonesia; Chennai, India; and Luang Prabang, Laos.

~News courtesy of The Star~

DPM: Tourism tax will be imposed

DPM: Tourism tax will be imposed

The Government is going ahead with its tourism tax to be imposed from July 1.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who disclosed this yesterday, said more funds were needed to support tourism promotion activities.

“At present, some states receive little (funds), some get more,” he said. Under the new tax, hotel guests will be charged between RM2.50 and RM20 for every night’s stay, depending on the classification of the hotel.

Dr Ahmad Zahid disclosed that the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday directed that the tourism tax spat involving Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and the Sarawak and Sabah governments be put to an end.

“The Prime Minister chaired the Cabinet meeting and I have personally met with the Chief Ministers of Sarawak and Sabah.

“So the chapter is closed,’’ he told reporters after closing an Islamic education workshop here yesterday.

Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah had called on the Government to defer the implementation of the tourism tax in Sarawak and Sabah. This invited criticism from Nazri.

Dr Ahmad Zahid also said RM10mil will be given to the Advisory Board for the Coordination of Islamic Education for the enhancement of Islamic educational institutions.

The workshop approved several resolutions, including one on a special mechanism to strengthen Federal-state cooperation in Islamic educational development.

~News courtesy of The Star~

More trains and buses for Raya

More trains and buses for Raya

The Transport Ministry hopes to add more trains and express buses to serve the balik kampung crowds during the coming festive season.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said he had already directed KTM Berhad to increase its services for the period.

“Most of the demand is from Kuala Lumpur to the northern states. So, they will be providing 27 trips daily to the northern states, some up to Padang Besar.

“There is a limit to how much we can increase for the time being, however, because we do not have enough train coaches,” he told reporters after launching the Hari Raya integrated operations and road safety campaign here yesterday.

The ministry, said Liow, was also working with express bus operators to try and increase the number of buses during the Hari Raya period.

However, he said there was a lack of bus drivers due to more stringent selection criteria.

Promoting safe trips: Liow talking to a passenger after launching the Hari Raya integrated operations and road safety campaign.

“(For some routes) we will need two drivers to take turns because of the long distance.

“These are among the shortcomings we have during the Raya season but we will work towards overcoming them,” he said.

On the road accident statistics for last year, Liow said the numbers had increased, especially for fatalities.

“Last year, we had 521,466 road accidents compared to 489,606 previously.

“The number of fatalities from road accidents showed a sudden increase – going up to 7,152 deaths last year compared to 6,706 in 2015.

“During the two-week road safety campaign last year, police recorded 20,982 accidents, with 299 deaths,” he said.

As over 60% of the fatalities involved motorcyclists, Liow said this year’s campaign would focus on raising awareness among this group of road users.

“None of these statistics mean that the previous campaign have failed. If you look at the ratio of accidents to registered vehicles, that has actually gone down.

“We went from four deaths for every 10,000 vehicles in 2010 to 2.59 deaths for every 10,000 vehicles last year.

“In developed countries, the ratio is two deaths for every 10,000 vehicles and we aim to reach this by 2020,” he said.

This year's road safety campaign, with the theme “Pandu Cermat Sampai Selamat” will run for two weeks and includes advocacy as well as enforcement of road safety rules and regulations.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Matta supports tourism tax

Matta supports tourism tax, but ...



The Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (Matta) is urging the Government to delay the rollout of the impending Tourism Tax (TTx), or at least parts of it.

While saying the association is behind the tax, its president Datuk Hamzah Rahmat said the Aug 1 implementation date may not be an ideal time.

The TTx will not only affect domestic tourists, but also Malaysians who have to travel for other purposes such as studies, medical treatments or family obligations.

"Those people who have to travel will have to travel, and they will be forced to pay for it. It doesn’t just affect tourists," he said on Wednesday.

Hamzah suggests the TTx be imposed on 4-star and 5-star hotels first, but be deferred on lower-rated hotels, hostels and accommodation premises to a later date.

“I’m not saying that this tax shouldn't be imposed at all, but now is not the time for it,” he said.

Hamzah added that domestic travel is currently picking up due to the high cost of overseas travel, and he was concerned that an additional tax would deter Malaysians from travelling domestically.

The Penang, Langkawi and Malacca state governments are already charging RM2 to RM9 depending on the type of hotel the guest is staying in.

Passed as part of the Tourism Tax Bill 2017, TTx will see local and international tourists paying a levy to the operators of accommodation premises.

The tax rate is fixed and charged on a per-room, per-night basis.

The rates are RM20 for five-star accommodations, RM10 for four-star accommodations, RM5 for one- to three-star accommodations, and RM2.50 for non-rated accommodations, including budget hotels.

Engineer Lim Chze Hong, 33, who travels twice a month for work, said the TTx would be an unnecessary burden for Malaysians and should only be imposed on foreign tourists.

"It is an extra burden on top of the funds we need to spend to travel outstation for work, regardless if the rooms are paid for by the company or not.

“If this is a ‘tourism tax’, then they should not impose the tax on anyone who books a room using their MyKad,” he said.

Meanwhile, 41-year-old writer Vivan Chong said that she wouldn't mind paying the tax if the revenue was used to develop the local tourism industry.

She however asked if there are solid plans in place regarding the funding.

"The rates are not a burden money-wise, but I think the real question is, who is this supposed to benefit in the first place and why are we being taxed for already contributing to the economy by travelling locally," she added.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had said that the tax revenue would be spent mainly on tourism and infrastructure development throughout the country.

He said the tax was necessary because the Government needed to mitigate uncertainties in the oil-and-gas industry, adding that the Government was expected to collect about RM800mil annually through the new tax.

~News courtesy of The Star~

AirAsia warns of ticket scams

AirAsia warns of ticket scams

AirAsia is warning the public of a scam using its brand name on social media.

In the scam, free tickets are offered through an online survey and participants are directed to the website www.airasia.com-2017-givea.us where they are required to answer a few questions to redeem vouchers.

There is also another scam circulating on Facebook offering 268 free AirAsia tickets in conjunction with AirAsia’s 28th anniversary.

In a press statement released yesterday, AirAsia stressed that the two social media posts are scams.

“The public is strongly advised to ignore those posts and not click on any link or provide any personal information, as AirAsia is not held liable for any claims pertaining to the false schemes,” said the statement.

All official announcement will be made through AirAsia’s official channel and credible mass media, it added.

Should the public encounter any suspected scams or would like clarification, please access www.facebook.com/airasia, www.twitter.com/airasia or www.airasia.com/ask.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Floating mosque to hold feast on June 22

Floating mosque to hold feast on June 22



Welcoming sight: The floating mosque in Tanjung Bungah will be hosting a feast to mark Lailatul Qadar.

The mosque qariah committee of the Tanjung Bungah floating mosque will hold a kenduri (feast) after breaking of fast and terawih prayers on June 22.

Committee deputy chairman Badarul Jamal Mohd Ariffin said the feast, which falls on the 27th day of Ramadan, is to commemorate the auspicious time of Lailatul Qadar when the Quran was revealed.

“Everyone is welcome to join us. After breaking fast, we will invite preachers to deliver sermons and also recite the Quran,” he said in an interview here yesterday.

Badarul Jamal said during the Ramadan month, the mosque provides break fast meals for about 100 people daily, followed by nightly terawih prayers and Quran recitals.

The picturesque Tanjung Bungah floating mosque’s minaret is seven storeys high.

From the air, its star-shaped design is evident, while concealed pilings and stilts below give it a floating effect.

Inspired by Moorish architecture, the mosque, which stretches over 70m out to sea from the shoreline, was built at the cost of RM15mil to replace an older mosque which was damaged by the 2004 tsunami.

Orderly rows of fishing boats floating around the mosque preserve its heritage as a fishermen’s place of worship to this day. Over 1,500 Muslims can answer the call to prayer at any one time at the mosque.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Hot, dry days until September

Hot, dry days until September

The southwest monsoon has brought with it hotter and drier weather to peninsular Ma­­laysia and Sarawak.

Malaysian Meteorological Depart­ment (MetMalaysia) director-general Alui Bahari said the monsoon season started yesterday.

He said the southwest monsoon came after the end of the inter-monsoon period which brought heavy rains to the peninsula last month.

The monsoon is expected to last until September.

“Generally, during the southwest monsoon, the country will experience lower rainfall in the peninsula and Sarawak,” Alui said in an email.

He said there would be more dry days ahead than wet ones in these two areas during this period.

“But Sabah will receive more rain than other states” he added.

According to the MetMalaysia website, there are four seasons in Malaysia - the southwest monsoon (May to September), northeast monsoon (early November to March), and two inter-monsoon seasons in between.

Rain is only expected to return in October during the next inter-monsoon period.

The northeast monsoon will bring heavy rain to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, west Sarawak and the northeast of Sabah.

Meanwhile, to escape the hot weather, more people have been seeking shelter in shopping malls

Malaysia Shopping Malls Asso­ciation adviser HC Chan said families would spend more time in malls when the weather got hotter.

“They will have many options in­­clu­­ding going to the restaurants and shops to escape the heat,” he said.

Chan said since the hot spell began recently, there has been a 10% increase in the number of visitors to shopping malls in the Klang Valley.

~News courtesy of The Star~